Joe’s Taco Lounge & Salsa

just had the carne asada burrito… horrible!
no flavor at all… Lucindas is 100 times better.

First time I was at Joe’s tacos in 2012 I absolutely loved it. The atmosphere, staff, and food! I was there again just 2 weeks ago and it was just as I remembered it! Marinated grilled fish tacos with habanero mayo are my favorite– just enough spice! House margaritas go well with the tacos. Would recommend for date night, girls night out, or family dinner.

The best Mexican food in USA… you better believe me.
We family love to eat here if we could we would go here every day.
We went straight from the Airport to eat… that’s how much we are addicted to this kind of food
The Rice Family
India

God dammit these people make great tacos! Whenever I wake up and find my self driving my Bugatti along the back roads of Point Reyes National Seashore with an empty bottle of Ambien in my lap I think to myself, something just isn’t right. A fish taco will smooth it all out. Maybe some bean soup.

For the price the food is good. Loved the salsa and hot sauce selection. Also our server Gregorio was lightening fast, we never waited for a thing. The gauc could use some work though it was pretty bland.

But what distinguishes Joe’s, for me, is how unbelievably friendly everyone who works there is — genuinely interested in making sure everything is right and that I am going to be back. And they don’t need to be — the food stands on it’s own and it’s always packed. Really great food, awesome décor inside. A little on the pricey side, but they give you enough for leftovers every time. Joe’s rules — try the about-​tomatillo salsa. Great every time.

Tacos are excellent — we had the crab and the steak as a mid-​afternoon treat.

FISH TACOS! The best!
I live in Santa Rosa but occasionally work in this area, and have made a point to stop by Joe’s for the past 20 years. Still the best fish tacos around.
I haven’t ventured through many of the other items on the menu, but I know a good fish taco when I taste it. It’s rather unique to ‘cruise’ the side walls and pick out your favorite hot sauce (or try a new one).
Get yourself a shirt while you’re there!

Really cute, small place. Get the tofu tostada! They’ve got this sauce in it that has a little sweetness to it & the tofu is crispy :). Salsa is mediocre. Services is way cool. They are attentive. There’s an elevated eating U bar in the middle of the place. This is a good find!

We hadn’t been to Joe’s Taco Lounge in a while, and were looking forward to their great food.
A few days ago, we stood inside the doorway and waited for the waitress to notice us, she was busy at the cash register. We waited, and waited. Finally, a waiter came out and cheerfully told us to sit anywhere.
My husband and I ordered the Vallarta Fish Tacos from the waitress, who brusquely asked if we wanted to order chips. Good thing we did order chips because that was the only thing we had to eat there.
About 35 minutes after we ordered, we looked around and saw that people who had come in after us were being served their food. Just then, the waiter came by and asked us, did you order? We said yes.
He went back to the open kitchen to look for our food. He came back and apologized and said our order was never put in. Apparently the indifferent waitress went off shift without putting our order in. My husband was much nicer than I was about this, but he still got up to leave. The waiter, bless his heart, offered to have our food prepared and only charge us 50%, but my husband explained that once we experienced such poor service, our appetites vanished. He offered the pay for the chips and my soda, but the waiter, who was very apologetic, told us not to pay. I don’t think we’ll be going back there anytime soon.

from visit dated — 11−3−15
This is not my neighborhood, but a friend recommended the place for a lunch meetup. I loved the space, the décor and the food! I had returned from Mexico the day prior, and this place made me feel as if I had never left. As I drank my beer I reveled in the beach memories of the trip. The menu had many offerings of interest, with plenty options to return for. We settled on the Torta El Pastor and the Polenta & Eggs plate, with chips and salsa. All items hit the mark, with the only exception being the polenta was a little cool under the eggs, but the flavors were a true combination of south of the border spices. I would definitely return.

Great food and friendly service in a kitschy 40 seat Mexican diner. Great selection of hot sauces full the ledge around the room. Fish tacos and chicken torta are awesome…

Great Mill Valley local stop. High quality ingredients, friendly staff, reasonable prices, good selection for kids, fun counter dining. Plus for the many hot sauces lining the room that you can choose from.
Only thing I’d wish they’d improve is their salsa — not a lot of flavor.

Food Poisoning!!! My girlfriend and I knew something wasn’t right with the smell and taste of our grilled fish tacos, I said as much as I pulled most of the fish out of my second taco. We should have stopped eating them but we were hungry and we don’t like to complain or waste food. Immediately afterwards we both felt ill. I got violently sick three times, then I called Joe’s to warn them about giving other customer’s food poisoning. Their response was very defensive. They told me that the fish tacos were their most popular item and they have never had any complaints before. Maybe they haven’t read the Unilocal reviews but I see at least 4 other cases of people getting food poisoning from Joe’s. Food options are pretty slim in Mill Valley, and Joe’s has always been a last resort for me, but after this experience I will never eat there again.

This is one of the best restaurants in the Bay Area! The food is fresh and delicious, the service is friendly and efficient, and the atmosphere is fun and colorful. My friends and I go there every Sunday night and they go out of their way to accommodate us and make space for us. I’ve been going to this restaurant since 2000 and it just keeps getting better. My favorite dish is the tofu tostada but everything is good. I love the fish tacos, the crab enchiladas, the burritos… basically everything. And their agua fracas and chocolate cake are delicious too!

Def a Mill Valley crowd.
Nice space… great for kids between 5 and 7ish (that’s time of day; maybe age too).
Good service, friendly faces, food was so-​so.
I’d go back if I was in the area but wouldn’t make a special trip.
Much better places in San Rafael.

4+ stars food, 5 stars atmosphere… Joe’s Taco Lounge has been a favorite of ours for years… i love going here and especially on a not-​so-​crowded evening early in the week, otherwise it’s very popular. This establishment creates a great varied menu, filled with delicious offerings… and they also have the wonderfully greasy, spicy Street Burger… oh so good… writing about it makes me want one. The Chicken Tostada is very good, pilled high with everything… Quesadilla Rica is excellent (with or w/​o chicken)…but the best is the colorful atmosphere.
There is one critique and it doesn’t have to do with the food at Joe’s but it has to do with the local families that use Joe’s Taco Lounge as their children’s own private playground. I feel sorry for the staff (and other customers) who suffer through it… you might wish to wait until after 7:30pm for dinner.

Meh. Also, I had a chorizo taco and a carnitas taco. There was so much liquid in my plate (grease and… water?) I had to move the tacos off the plate. They charge $ 2.50 for chips and salsa (really?). Service was good.
Listen, it wasn’t terrible, but I wouldn’t go there again.

Ridiculously good service and great atmosphere! Food is good, exactly what you’d expect. Will be back

4 stars. Good service. Chips and salsa didn’t seem homemade but my friends said they are and are usually better. Had two tacos, the vallarta snapper and crab. Both were tasty, the green hot lime salsa was delicious!!! My new favorite salsa. The green tomatillo salsa that came with the snapper was also bomb!
Solid, quick tacos, the way to go.

Extremely charming restaurant with a ton of options and variations, something to satisfy everyone. I feel very comfortable here, it’s homey in a weird way. When you walk in the door you have the option to sit at a U shaped bar in the middle of the room or at tables easily capable of hosting 2 – 8 people. There were quite a few people in on a Sunday afternoon lunch including a group of bike riders who were able to lockup in the racks out front.
I ordered a fish burrito today and had the option to cook the fish pan fried, lightly battered/​deep fried, or in the typical deep fried manner. My wife had chicken enchiladas where the meat had a nice BBQ taste to it.
Employees were very friendly and helpful. There is also room to eat outside. They open at 11:30 but serve the breakfast menu all day. Prices are great for Marin and we got our food quickly, will be back. Cheers!

Decided to try this place out. Super cute exterior and seemingly popular every time I drive by, figured it was worth a shot.
It was a little bit busy this evening, especially with all of the kids. What do you expect for Mill Valley though. Ignoring the droves of children, we got on the waitlist which was only about 10 minutes. We were seated pretty promptly and the service was good.
We had the quesadilla with chicken and the crab tacos. Both were really excellent and reasonably priced. Our waiter forgot our chips and salsa and it was a little hard to track him down but he eventually checked on us and delivered the chips and salsa.
I will definitely take a trip back here for good, reasonably priced, mexican food.

I stopped here with 8 others and we all loved our food! The prawns tacos were my favorite, but the fish tacos (all versions) were a big hit. Their wine margarita was also spectacular! For a bunch of hungry people, this definitely hit the spot.

VIBE: Casual
WHY: Fish tacos & incredible hot sauce selection
This place is SUPER convenient for locals. Solid, consistent food at affordable prices. I stick with my favorites:
— Kid’s size burrito: Much more manageable than the «regular» (huge) portion… I get the BRC (beans, rice & cheese) «mojado» with salsa verde, guacamole & sour cream
— Grilled fish tacos
— Griddle corn cake
— Black bean soup
The hot sauce selection is unreal at this place. There are all kinds available, and are placed on the wall around the restaurant. My favorite is the «Scotch Bonnet» because it contains peaches… perfect sweet/​spicy combo!
There are a couple tables outside where you can sit with your dog, they normally have a water bowl outside too. Perfect for the pooch :)

I love this place. It is always the best eats around. The place is a colorful Mexican style tiny eatery. I would drive a long way to have a Joe’s Lounge Burger. With their pepper fries. Be sure to ask for the bottle of chapotle sauce, with roasted tomatos. The black sauce. This burger is massive. AND THE ONIONS ARE SWEET ONIONS NOT THE INTENSE ONES. Patti took care of me and she was very nice. All the food including the fish taco rock. Everything is recommended.

Popping back five years later, the chicken tortilla soup still chock-​full of comforting goodness and grilled fish tacos brightly colored and satisfying after a day of play in Marin.

Joe’s Taco is a great place to go after a hike or time at the beach in Muir Woods. The food is simple, cheap, and tasty. It is the type of place where you can roll in your workout clothes and with muddy shoes and get a great burrito or taco.
They make a great simple salsa and keep the chips coming! The atmosphere is filled with history and the walls are lined with tons of different hot sauces.
Definitely worth a try if your are in Mill Valley!

There’s always a reason a restaurant lasts a long time. In Joe’s case, it’s because they offer a solid mix of food for a reasonable price. If you’re hungry, start with the Griddled Corn Cake and then follow that with the Quesadilla Rica with or without chicken. If you want tacos, their fish tacos are the staples and always good. I’ve had most of the taco plates and enchilada plates but I’m not a fan of their burritos. Maybe it’s a personal thing but I simply don’t like them. If you’re a burrito fan, head across town to Lucinda’s as they set the bar. I have never tried the Mexican Pizza but my son likes the burger and yes, it’s a very kid friendly place.
What’s best about Joe’s is the atmosphere. It’s a charming little place where the service is excellent and you don’t have to wait long — just don’t come at kid feeding time and then you will. If there are people out front and you’re in a rush, move on as it’ll be a while.
Some people complain that it’s «suburban watered down» Mexican food. I can see that but it’s only in small doses. You’ll have to stay in context as you are in suburbia — don’t expect La Taqueria or Celia’s — if you are, actually go to those places — many reviewers set the wrong bar or frame Joe’s out of context. Joe’s is a fun little family owned place with excellent service, a nice atmosphere, and great food. And BTW, two people for dinner with a beer is about $ 30 — not bad to try a place out. I’ve been there probably close to 50 times or more and is one of my favorites.

Joe’s Taco Lounge ist eine Art mexikanischer Diner — mit Sitzplätzen an der Bar und einzelnen Tischen drumherum verteilt. Die Dekoration kann man als eklektisch bezeichnen — Madonnafiguren und Madonnagemälde an den Wänden verteilt, mit verschiedenen Salsas vermischt. Es ist sehr gemütlich — finde ich — und der Service ist super nett.
Den Unilocalern zufolge, sind die Fisch-​Tacos hier sehr lecker und so bestellte ich die dann auch. Definitiv lecker! Und da ich im Leben und auch beim Essen Variation sehr zu schätzen weiß, habe ich zwei verschieden Tacos bestellt. (Der nette Mann, der uns bediente war das anscheinend schon gewohnt und machte da auch kein großes Drama raus.) Mein Freund hat die für Hühnchen-​Enchiladas bestellt und war damit auch sehr zufrieden. Zum Trinken gab’s bei uns Erdbeer-​Fresca und auch wenn die etwas zu süß waren, haben wir sie sehr genossen! God Bless America for Free Refills!
Alles in allem finde ich Joe’s Taco Lounge echt klasse. Wie sagt man im Englischen doch so schön: it hits the spot! Kulinarisch betrachtet, ist es jetzt nicht das beste mexikanische Essen, aber auf jeden Fall hat mir der Besuch hier sehr gefallen und ich freue ich jetzt schon auf das nächste Mal… wenn Maria und Jesus mit der Hot Sauce in ihrer Mitte — mir wieder beim Essen zuschauen werden!
Ach ja: und es ist günstig hier! Ein definitives Plus!